1100 Sport Carb MR1 forks- how to make better-er

[Greenman]

I've fiddled with my marzocchi forks for years,  fitted the WP springs instead of the floppy standard ones, and dropped them through the yokes 15mm.
But how do you rebuild the cartridges? is it even possible?
I've heard that you can fit CBR600 internals, does anyone know how this was done?
and yes, I know the GSXR750 or a 1000 front end will cure all ills, but I would like things to look standard.

Thanks in advance
Dennis

[Aaron D.]

They aren't cartridge forks, so you can't rebuild those. Just a damper rod fork.

Maybe bearings, and seals would do it, should you find the bushings have play. Mine don't as I approach 40,000 miles.

[Greenman]

Yes, they are damper rod forks, but with that cartridge arrangement that doesn't allow you to fit emulators. someone must know something about these forks out there?
why, why why did they use these forks? was marzocchi dumping them.

[pauldaytona]

They aren't that bad. They still make a huge upgrade to any tonti bike.
If you want fun, do it like dr john 26 years ago. One external shock outside mounted.

[Aaron D.]

I have to agree with Paul, they are pretty good for the time and I don't have any real problem with their performance.

[geodoc]

I believe you're talking about the earlier Sport 1100 non-USD style with adjustable damping - compression on one side & rebound on the other. I fitted that front end on to a Tonti framed hot rod and was not at all pleased with the fork performance. In the end I sent them to Cogent Dynamics in North Carolina where he installed a cartridge set-up, tough still with the same compression on one side and rebound on the other as well as more appropriate springs. It was a huge improvement. I can't remember the exact cost, but it was not cheap. with hindsite, I should have gotten a CBR600 non-USD front end and been way ahead of the game and spent a lot less.

http://www.motocd.com/

As an aside, before they were modified and afterward too they had a clunk that drove me nuts coming from the fork internals. I probably had them apart a half a dozen times trying to figure it out. I did finally discover the problem. There is a bushing that is located at the bottom of the fork tube and secured with a circlip. This bushing had some slop in it that allowed it to move up & down about .100" with the fork action. I ended up using locktite to bond the bushing to the fork and that was the end of the clunk.



George

[rocker59]

For mine:

-WP springs
-10wt oil
-lowered 20mm

I'm pretty happy with the forks on the Sport 1100, and would love to have them on my V7 Special, too !!!

(just need some custom billet triple clamps    )

[Petrus Rocks]

If they are damper rod forks you should be able to install emulators.  My guess is the adjustments would need to be removed.  They are a significant improvement.  You could check with race tech about fitment.  There are emulators out there that are less expensive than race tech's.

[Murray]

WP were making slightly heavier springs are they still are NFI, Been damper rod forks the oil is worked hard and needs to be changed regularly which is suspect most people don't do. Their biggest problem IMO is the sheer weight of the front wheel. So depending on how deep your pockets are you may be able to find a marchseni off a late model ducati to fit.

[rocker59]

WP were making slightly heavier springs are they still are NFI, Been damper rod forks the oil is worked hard and needs to be changed regularly which is suspect most people don't do. Their biggest problem IMO is the sheer weight of the front wheel. So depending on how deep your pockets are you may be able to find a marchseni off a late model ducati to fit.

Or, a Dymag.  But they're rare as hen's teeth!